FBI releases photos of ‘Alabama Band Bandit’ serial bank robber

LYNNWOOD — The FBI on Tuesday released information and photos it hopes will solve a string of recent bank robberies, including two in Snohomish County.

Police have dubbed the man they believe committed the robberies between Bellingham and Shoreline the “Alabama Band Bandit” and are looking for help identifying him.

“This bank robber got his nickname because of the baseball hat he wore during the July 11 robbery,” FBI spokeswoman Ayn Dietrich said. The man’s hat has the logo for the band Alabama on its front.

The man is believed to have robbed at least five banks in July.

The most recent robbery occurred at the Lynnwood Wells Fargo Bank on July 30. Early that afternoon, a man believed to be in his 40s handed a note to a teller before running off in the 1200 block of 164th Street SW. The case also has been under investigation by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

The same man is believed to be responsible for the July 7 Bank of America robbery at the Martha Lake branch off 164th Street SW.

The bandit appears to be working with a woman who has driven a getaway car for at least two bank robberies, Dietrich said. In the July 11 robbery in Shoreline, she drove what appeared to be a blue-green, early 1990s-model Nissan Pathfinder.

On July 18, she appeared to be driving a green Land Rover Discovery.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the bank robbery suspect.

He is believed to have worn a wig, glasses and some sort of hat.

He has implied that he has a weapon and threatened tellers, Dietrich said.

Anyone with information about his identity or whereabouts should call 911. They also can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Callers to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous and are eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 if the information given leads to an arrest and criminal charge. That’s in addition to the FBI reward of up to $5,000.